Embrace the Sun

Charley had just returned from setting up Throttle and Carbine on their dream date. She felt so happy for them. They were together at long last. She was rounding the corner when she heard giggling. There up against a wall was Harley. Vinnie had his arms around her. He was nibbling behind her ear then kissing her neck. More giggles as she playfully pulled away. She then kissed him on the mouth as her arms went around his neck.

Charley kept walking.

"They belong together. She's what Vinnie needs. Someone who can put up with his wild, live in the moment ways. It's meant to be." She told herself. Then why did she suddenly feel so sad?

After all, it's not like she and Vinnie never had a chance. On Earth, they had lots of chances to step out of the friend zone, but in the end they both decided they didn't want to ruin the friendship. The attraction was there but they never acted on it. Almost kissed but caught it in time. Now Harley had come back into his life and she had to admit she'd never seen him happier. That's what she wanted for them all. Those Macho Mice. The Biker Mice. Her family.

"I think I'll go work on my truck. Gotta replace the fan belt." She thought.

Charley went into the holding area of Freedom Fighters Headquarters where her truck stood. Connected to the truck was a trailer that contained a living quarters. She took her tools out of the truck. She then heard movement coming from the trailer. She took out her blaster ready for action. She cautiously opened it and gasped. Modo was seated at the table.

"Oh, Modo! You scared me outta a year's growth!" Charley exclaimed, then she looked closely.

The grey-furred giant was staring at the table deep in thought. It was like he wasn't there. From his tear-stained muzzle to his slumped ears and antennas, Charley could tell he was in some deep distress. In his hand was a gold locket.

"Big Guy, you okay?" She asked.

Modo was unresponsive.

"Would it help if you talked about it?" She ventured.

"Shanice." He simply muttered.

"Was she your girlfriend?"

"My wife." He replied opening the locket which displayed an attractive female Martian Mouse.

" I didn't know you were married."

"I was. She died the day Plutork invaded Mars. We'd only been together a month. Today's the five year anniversary of her death." He said.

"Oh, Modo. I'm so sorry." Charley said.

"It's been five years but it still hurts." He said,"I gave her this locket on her last birthday." The gray-furred mouse lowered his head as the tears came.

Charley placed her hand on Modo's gloved hand.

"I'm sorry, Miss Charley. I shouldn't be slobbering like this." He said, wiping away tears with the back of his metal hand.

"There's nothing to be sorry about. Let the tears come. I cried as much after Jack left."

"Jack?" Modo asked.

"My ex-fiancé. We were all set to be married the next day. He left me at the altar." Charley replied.

"Oh, Miss Charley."Modo said," I'm sorry."

"It was before you guys came." She said.

As Charley talked about it, the painful memories came flooding back. She saw herself arrayed in a white wedding dress with a silver tiara on her head from which a long white train protruded. She walked towards the altar carrying a fresh bouquet of white roses. She then stood there and waited. She stood for a good twenty minutes. She looked back at the front door. No groom. People looked around and at the door. Suddenly, the door flew open. A guy on a bicycle showed up and approached Charley. In his hand was a letter.

"Are you Charlene Davidson?" He asked.

"Well, yes, I am." She replied, in a low voice as she felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"I was instructed to give this to you." He replied, handing her the letter. She opened it.

Jack, as usual, beat around the bush. He couldn't give her a definite reason why he chose her wedding day to jilt her. He just got cold feet and left town without so much as a goodbye. There she was in a church filled with her parents and all of her friends coming to see her marry her college sweetheart. Then he ditches her. Her dad wanted to kill him. He took out his automatic rifle attempting to hunt down the backstabbing snake. Charley made him put it back. She rode to her small apartment, curled up in a chair and cried.

"I decided after that I wasn't going to be crushed by love ever again. So I sold my wedding gown. I used the money to put a down payment on the Last Chance garage." She declared, proudly.

"Instead of a wedding reception, I had an open house for the garage."

"Wow. I always thought that you and Vinnie would've..."Modo began.

"It wasn't meant to be. Besides, he's got Harley now."

"What I'm basically saying is Shanice wouldn't have wanted you to be sad. I know you'll never forget her. She has her place in your heart like Jack is in mine but she'd want you to move on."

"You're right. She wouldn't. She's say 'Embrace the sunrise.'" Modo replied, "She loved looking at sunrises and sunsets."

"The sun coming up now. Let's go look at it."Charley replied grabbing Modo by the arm.

The two friends stepped outside to see a large glowing yellow sun coming up over the horizon. The night sky was turning from cobalt blue to rosy pink and purple.

"It's like she's there with me." He said, smiling for the first time.

"I think she is, too." Charley replied, smiling, "Embracing the sun."